Basic Calculus Reviewer (3RD Quarter)

Illustrating the Limit of a Function

The Limit of a function f(x) is the value it approaches as the value of x approaches c certain
value “as x approaches c, the limit of f(x) approaches L”. This is written in symbols as follows:
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳
𝒙→𝒄

“The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L.”

Limit VS Function Value

lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐

- Behavior of f as x approaches c
- May exist even c is not part of the domain
- F must be defined at numbers “near” c
𝑓(𝑐)

- The exact value of f at c

- If c is not in the domain of f, then f(c) is
undefined
- F may not be defined at numbers “near” c

Limit Theorems
1. The Limit of a constant is itself
If k is any constant, then
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒌 = 𝒌
𝒙→𝒄
2. The limit of x as x approaches c is equal is equal to c. This may be thought of as the
substitution law, because x is simply substituted by c.
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝒄
𝒙→𝒄
3. The Constant Multiple Theorem
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒌∙ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒌 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒌 ∙ 𝑳
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
4. The Sum and Difference Theorem
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇(𝒙) + 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 + 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇(𝒙) − 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 − 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
5. The Multiplication Theorem
𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 ∙ 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
6. The Division Theorem
𝒇(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝒙→𝒄
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
= 𝑴,𝑴 ≠ 𝟎
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
7. The Power Theorem
𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒇(𝒙))𝒑 = (𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙))𝒑 = 𝑳𝒑
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
8. The Radical/Root Theorem
𝒏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒏√𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒏√𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝑳
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Transcendental Functions
Logarithm is the inverse of exponentiation
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 (𝑛) = 𝑥  𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑛
where:

b = base
n = argument
x = exponent
Example:

34 = 81  𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = 4

Logarithmic Form Exponential Form

𝑙𝑜𝑔5 25 = 2 52 = 25
𝑙𝑜𝑔7 343=3 73 = 343
𝑙𝑜𝑔2 32 = 5 25 = 32
Natural Logarithm is a special form of logarithm in which the base is a mathematical
constant e
𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒆 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒏𝒙
Euler’s Number is a mathematical constant represented by the letter e that is the base of the
natural logarithm and is used in problems relating to exponential growth or decay.
e = 2.718281828459045…
𝟎
Indeterminate Form " 𝟎 " are functions
whose limits cannot be determined
immediately using the limit theorems we have
so far. In these cases, the functions must be
manipulated so that the limit, if it exists, can
be calculated. We call such limit expressions
indeterminate forms.

Special Limits
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒕
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒕
=𝟏
𝒕→𝟎

𝟏−𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒕
𝐥𝐢𝐦 =𝟎
𝒕→𝟎 𝒕

𝒆𝒕 −𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒕
=𝟏
𝒕→𝟎
Continuity of a function
A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x=c if the following three conditions are satisfied:

i. 7f(c) exists;
ii. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists; and
𝑥→𝑐
iii. 𝑓 (𝑐 ) = lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐

A function is continuous if you can draw

the graph without lifting your pen or pencil and the graph has no break or holes.
Continuity of a Function in a given interval
Slope and Equation of a Tangent Line
A line is tangent to a cirlc if it intersects the circle at exactly one point
Properties of tangent lines:
1. Tangent lines drawn at the maximum or minimum points are horizontal
2. Tangent lines drawn to a line, is the line itself.
3. Vertical tangents may exist even for continuous functions.
There are cases wherein curves do not have tangent lines at specific points
1. When the function is not continuous at P

2. The function has a sharp corner or cusp at P